𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡, Kottathara Gram Panchayat, Wayanad, Kerala

𝐀 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠

Raihanath is an emerging leader from Kottathara, Wayanad, Kerala, in climate-resilient farming, exemplifying the power of sustainable practices. Initially focused on conventional farming methods, her journey took a transformative turn when she joined SSP’s training on Women-Led Climate-Resilient Farming (WCRF).

After learning the climate-resilient farming model, developed by Swayam Shikshan Prayog SSP , she adopted the practice, ensuring her family’s food security and nutrition while maximising the use of her one-acre plot. Today, her land gives diverse food and cash crops, including passion fruit, cardamom, ginger, pepper, turmeric, banana, and arecanut, along with beekeeping and mushroom cultivation.

To address various climatic risks, SSP facilitated peer learning exchanges to model WCRF farms, where Raihanath gained invaluable insights. Inspired by fellow farmers, she began cultivating 13 varieties of vegetables such as brinjal, cabbage, spinach, chilli, okra, tomato, ash gourd, and bottle gourd—as well as tubers like elephant yam, colocasia, and tapioca. This diversification has ensured year-round food security, improved nutrition, and reduced the dependency on markets.

Exposure visits to women-led model farms, such as those run by Mrs. Madhavi and Mrs. Janaki, deepened her understanding of vermicomposting, mushroom cultivation, and leadership. Equipped with these skills, Raihanath now prepares organic manure using vermicompost, dry leaf compost, and kitchen waste. She has also adopted natural pest control methods, creating fish amino acid to replace chemical pesticides.

Experimenting with mushroom cultivation, she successfully harvested 2 kg of mushrooms and turned them into value-added products like pickles and squash. Her efforts have yielded impressive results, including harvesting over 60 kg of vegetables and 50 kg of tubers, producing 20 kg of vermicompost, 20 liters of vermiwash, and 10 liters of fish amino acid. She even collected 1 litre of honey, earning Rs. 3000 from it’s sale.

Raihanath’s transformation from an ordinary farmer to a leader in sustainable agriculture reflects her dedication and resilience.

“Initially, we may not understand the benefits of the WCRF model, but once we adopt it, it becomes the backbone of our life.” – Raihanath

Through her eco-friendly practices and relentless experimentation, Reihanath has become a role model for women farmers. Her journey underscores the profound impact of sustainable farming on livelihoods and environmental protection, demonstrating the power of SSP’s support and training in creating resilient farming communities.

Swayam Shikshan Prayog
January 06, 2025